Be the first to comment!Malta to buy maritime patrol aircraft with EU funds
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The European Commission has recently adopted Malta’s Annual Programme for 2009 that will be co-funded by the External Borders Fund. This Fund provides financial support to the Member States in the area of border management, including in implementing the provisions of the Schengen acquis in relation to checks at the borders and the issuance of visas.
In the 2009 Annual Programme, Malta will be benefiting from €7.3 million from the External Borders Fund. This allocation will be utilised by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) which is the entity responsible for the surveillance and patrol of the maritime borders. A maritime patrol aircraft equipped with electronic equipment for the surveillance of the maritime borders and for the exchange of real time information will be co-financed (75% of the total cost) by the External Borders Fund.
This investment will enhance the border control capabilities of the AFM and their capability to detect, identify and coordinate operations in case of unauthorised crossing of the maritime border. With the financial assistance of the Fund, the Armed Forces will be equipped with a Maritime Patrol Aircraft which will allow faster and more effective response on operations. Apart from the procurement of the Aircraft itself, the training of personnel is also envisaged, in order to operate and maintain the new equipment.
Apart from the expenditure on the Maritime Patrol Aircraft, a financial reserve of €45,128 will be utilised as technical assistance for the implementation of the Fund itself.
This Annual Programme follows the Annual Programmes of 2007 and 2008 which are currently underway and which will be concluded in the coming months.
Projects under these two Annual Programmes include the purchase of patrol boats to be used by the Armed Forces of Malta, equipment for the Immigration Section within the Malta Police Force and projects to enable the issuance of Schengen visas in line with EU rules from Malta’s consular representations abroad.
These Annual Programmes are based on the multi-annual programming document that gives an overview of the strategy which will be implemented by Malta with the financial assistance of the External Borders Fund over the period 2007-2013.
